Lift truck attachment for handling drums



March 18, 1958 M. c. KNUDSTRUP 2,

LIFT TRUCK ATTACHMENTFOR HANDLING DRUMS Filed 001:. 27,. 1955 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 i iy INVENTOR Marf/n C. KnudsLru o.

BY 619M ATTORNEY March 18, 1958 A M. c. KNUDSTRUP' 2,

LIFT TRUCK ATTACHMENT FOR HANDLING DRUMS Filed Oct. 27, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Martin C/(nuasfrup.

BY QIPM AT TORN EY each other.

United States Fatent LIFT TRUCK ATTACHMENT FQR HANDLING DRUMS Martin C. Knudstrup, Manistee, Mich, assignnr of fifty percent to Robert N. Sergeant, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application October 27, 1955, Serial No. 543,219

15 Claims. (Cl. 214-620) The present invention relates broadly to moving equipment, and in its specific phases to the apparatus for handling and transporting of circumferentially ribbed steel drums.

Steel drums containing materials such as oils, solvents, et cetera, and which many times weigh approximately seven hundred pounds when filled, are commonly shipped in box cars and trucks tightly together with their outwardly-projecting circumferential ribs in contact with It is also standard practice to store them tightly together and stacked to conserve storage space. The handling of such drums is commonly accomplished through the use of tower type truck-tractors having forwardly projecting fork members. These fork members alone are not adapted for the handling of the steel drums, since when the latter are set on the warehouse fioor as Well as stacked one on another, there is no space for the points of the forks to be pushed under the drums. Where single drums setting by themselves are to be picked up and transported, these can be handled by means of a special type of truck-tractor tower which has adjustable members for sidewise movement of the forks. Such sidewise movable forks can be provided with members to partially encircle the drums, and then by moving the forks together, when in proper position, the drum can be gripped between them. This, however, cannot be accomplished where the drums are stored or stacked with their ribs tight together, and is also a slow, time consuming, procedure. Another type of drum handling device has been proposed which utilizes members for cam action gripping of the upper end flange of a steel drum from the top, together with a side contacting member for the lower edge of the drum. These devices have several moving parts and springs which not only make them expensive to manufacture, market, and use, but also subject to mechanical difficulties. It was a recognition of this problem and the difficulties inherent in same, as well as the lack of any simple and thoroughly satisfactory solution for it, which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a highly simplified steel drum handling assembly mountable on the forks of a tower type trucktractor assembly.

Another object is to provide a unitary device adapted for mounting of the forks of a tower type truck-tractor, and wherein same is adapted to pick up and handle steel drums which are placed with their circumferential ribs tight together.

Another object is to provide a steel drum handling assembly adapted to be slid onto the ends of the forks of a tower type truck-tractor, and which assembly has means for anchoring same on said forks against accidental sliding off under conditions of use.

A further object is to provide a steel drum handling assembly for use on fork type truck-tractors, and wherein same has only two moving parts which automatically 1827189 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 move during loading and unloading the assembly in the course of handling a steel drum.

A further object is to provide a steel drum handling assembly which has two pivoted members for engaging the under side of a circumferential rib of a steel drum and supporting same at the opposite sides of the drum so as to stabilize it during handling and transporting.

A further object is to provide a steel drum handling assembly for use on the forks of a tower type truck-tractor, and which assembly is not only quickly mountable and dismountable on said forks, but is safe, efficient, relatively light, of relatively low cost, and has nothing to get out of adjustment.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the handling and transporting means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail cer tain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a preferred form of the drum handling assembly of the present invention mounted tractor.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the drum handling assembly illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged fragmentary top view of an edge portion of the assembly with the drum holding member in drum receiving position.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary sectional view as taken at line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 shows the hook end of the anchoring chain of the assembly engaging a cross member of the trucktractor tower assembly.

Figure 6 shows a fragmentary portion of the anchoring chain engaging the panel member of the drum handling assembly, as seen at line 6-6 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 shows an enlarged cross section of the pivot mounting of the drum holding member as seen at line 77 of Figure 3, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing it will be noted that there is fragmentarily shown in diagrammatic manner the front end portion of a trucktractor 1 which has a tower 2 of conventional construc tion which is tiltable forward and back and which is adapted to raise and lower a pair of forks 3 on which the transporting and handling assembly 4 of the present invention is mountable.

The transporting and handling assembly 4, Figures 1 and 2, which is of metal and preferably of steel, has a panel member 5 on the upper face of which is mounted a pair of upstanding reinforcing ribs 6 which are preferably of a thickness approximately equal to or slightly less than the spacing between the bodies of steel drums 7 when their sidewise projecting ribs 8 are in contact with each other. The central forward portion 9' of panel member 5 is preferably cut out with a radius approximately the same as, or just slightly larger than, the radius of the body portion of the drum 7 with the tapered forward ends of reinforcing ribs 6 extending forward beyond the center of forward portion 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter set.

portion 9 of the panel member 5, are a pair of drunrhold I ing members 10. A simple form of pivot member, for the drum holding members, as is shown in Figure 7, may consist of a shouldered screw 11, which may be of Allen head type; or otherwise, for'ease' of tightening; The

upper inner edge of each of medium holdingimemb'ers 10 is preferably-provided with upstanding reinforcing ribs 12 and 13,-and saidinner'edge, includingsa'id'reinimember 10 is a rearwardly projecting arm member 14.

Substantially flush with the under face of this arm-member14 is a cross member 15 normally in sliding contact with the upper edge of reinforcing rib 6. At the outer ends of each cross member 15 are downwardly'projecting fingers 16 and 17 which cooperate with reinforcing rib 6 to act as stops for the'drum holding member 10, and facilitate use of the assembly. As shown in Figure 3, when finger 16 is in contact with the side of reinforcing rib 6,

the outer end of drum holding member 10 will be in outermost position to facilitate entry of a drum between reinforcing ribs 6 during the picking up of a drum. Then as the drum 7 moves back into the central forward portion 9 of the panel member it will contact upstanding rib 13 and pivotally move drum holding member sub stantially to the position shownin Figure 2,110 provide encirclingside support atdiarnetrically opposite sides of the drum to stabilize same during handling and transpor; tation. Inner finger 17 of the drum holding member 10 acts to restrain the latter from turning inward so far as handle. Then, whenever it is desired to use the assembly, it is only necessary to slide the forks 3 under same between panel member 5 and bar members 22 and 23,

been disclosed in connection with a'transporting and thereon, the forward end of said fork receiving means to interfere with the ready reception of a drum into the 7 central forward portion 9 of the assembly when the latter is moved to drum pick-up position. I

At the side' edges of the'under face of panel member 5 are downwardly extending reinforcing guide flange mem bers 18 and19, Figure 2, at the forward ends of which,

respectively; are inturned stop flange members 20"and"21 At the rear end of the under face of flange members 18 and'19 are bar members or the like 22 and 23 which are preferably substantially parallel with the under face of panel member 5 and supported in that position byrneans of bolts of the like 24 and 25.- Flange members 18 and 19, step flange members 20 andZL'and bar inembers 22 and 23 thus form a guide socket-for eachof'the fo'rks'3 on the under face of panel membef 5. By havingpanel anners widerthan the diameter of drum 7, this-allbws sidewise location at forks 3 at a greater spacing than 7 otherwise with improved stability of the over-all as'sen rr bly. The outer forward edges 31and 32 are-also curved mm between drums" stored in a row, which also strengthens and supports ribs 6. g V V With the transporting andhandling assembly} mounted onthe forks 3 of the truck-tractor 1, it is desirable to pro- 7 vide nieans for holding the assembly in that position so that the assembly will not accidentally slide forward on forks 3 when the truck-tractor is quickly stopped. A simple apparatus for accomplishing this end involves the use of a chain 26, Figure 1, which has a hook member 27, Figure 5, on its free end for engaging'a cross bar 28 carried onthe fork supporting portion of tower 2. This chain passes through a suitable opening 29, Figures 2 and a ia panel member 5 with-such opening having a slotted p'ortion 30" atits" rear edge adapted to closely fit the sides of a linkof the chain 26 and thus" releasably anchor the assembly on forks 3. One end of chain 26 is preferably fastened to the underside of panel member '5 by welding-or otherwise. By fas'tening the end of chain 26in thisrnanner, the chain will remain with the drum handlingassembly and not get lost, although, if desired, same can be used as a separate piece of chain.

'Ihis'"assembly can be' stored hetweeritinies of rise at convenientpointsuch'as, for instance, onthetop of of on the floor alongside the drum" which it is used to handling device for attaining the desired ends of handling ribbed'steel drums, and the like. Attention is, however,

invited to the possibility of making equivalent variations to the assembly within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the handling apparatus and combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by 'anyof the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. a

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A lifting and handling device for ribbed drums,

said device-being adapted for use on the front end of the forks of tower type truck-tractors or the like, and coniprising a relatively wide rigid panel member, said panel member having, means at. each side edge of same for receiving said forks and 'stabilizing'said panel member eritend pastthe midpoint of, and closely fit the body of said drum, wherein same includes a'variable length means,

" "as; releasably engaging said truck-tractor independent of forks oftow er typetruck-tractors or the like, and comprising a relatively wide rigid panel member, said panel said forks and holding said assembly on said forks, and wherein the means for receiving said forks ison the under side of said panel and for each fork it separably comprises a side flange member, a fork end stop flange member, and a supported cross member adjacent the rear edge of said panel to form a fork end receiving socket.

2. lifting and handling device for ribbed drums, said device being adapted for use on the front end of the member having means at each side edge of sarne for receiving" said forks and stabilizing said panel member thereon, the forward end of 'said fork receiving means terminating short of the midpoint of when 1: carryin'gpo'sition, said panel also having a recessed front 7 portion and a pair of rigid elongated upstandingmemhers which pfoject alongside of said recessed portion in the same g'e'n'erahdirection as said forks and are of a 7 widthfit'ting" the space between amiss, having their ribs in contactwith each other, and are adapted to fec eiv e,

extend pasrthe midpoint of, and closely fit the body of character described and which is adapted'for mounting onithe forksof tower type truck-tractorsor the like,=sa id deviceiincluding arigid; panel member which is wider than the drum to be lifted, said panel member havingmeans for receiving said forks and stabilizing said panel member thereon, said panel member also having a recessed front portion and a pair of substantially parallel elongated narrow members which project forwardly from the side edges of said recessed portion in the same general direction as said forks, and which members are adapted to receive, extend past the midpoint of, and closely fit the sides of the body of said drum, and pivoted narrow means having a substantially arcuate forward end portion, said means being separately carried on the top of each of said elongated narrow members and adapted to receive said drum therebetween and when said pivots are at diametrically opposite sides of said drum under a sidewise projecting rib thereof and said drum is lifted, said pivoted members will act to support and stabilize said drum against forward or backward tipping under normal operating conditions, said substantially parallel elongated members of said. panel member and said narrow means pivoted thereon being of a width permitting them to be passed between a pair of said drums with their ribs in contact with each other.

4. A ribbed drum lifting and handling device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said elongated narrow members each include a reinforcing rib which extends for wardly beyond the main portion of said panel member and also rearwardly to stiffen said panel member to which it is joined substantially throughout its overlapping length.

5. A ribbed drum lifting and handling device as set forth in claim 3, wherein same includes a variable length means for releasably engaging said truck-tractor independent of its forks and holding said assembly on said forks.

6. A ribbed drum lifting and handling device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the means for receiving said forks is on the underside of said panel and for each fork it separately comprises a side flange member, a fork end stop flange member, and a supported cross member adjacent the rear edge of said panel to form a fork end receiving socket.

7. A drum lifting and handling device as set forth in claim 3, wherein same includes a variable length means for releasably engaging said truck-tractor independent of said forks and holding said assembly on said forks, and wherein said elongated narrow members each include a reinforcing rib which extends forwardly beyond the main portion of said panel member and also rearwardly of midpoint of the drum, when in carrying position, to st ffen said panel member to which it is joined substantially throughout its overlapping length.

8. A ribbed drum lifting and handling device of the character described and which is adapted for mounting on the forks of tower type truck-tractors or the like, said device including a rigid panel member, said panel member having means for receiving said forks and stabilizing said panel member thereon, said panel member also having a recessed front portion and a pair of substantially parallel elongated narrow members which project forwardly from the side edges of said recessed portion in the same general direction as said forks, and which members are adapted to receive, extend past the midpoint of, and closely fit the sides of the body of said drum, and pivoted means carried by each of said elongated narrow members adapted to receive said drum therebetween and when said pivots are at diametrically opposite sides of said drum under a sidewise projecting rib thereof and said drum is lifted, said pivoted members will act to support and stabilize said drum against forward or backward tipping under normal operating conditions, wherein same includes a variable length means for releasably engaging said truck-tractor and holding said assembly on said forks, and wherein the means for receivingsaid forks is on the under side of said panel and for each fork it separably comprises a side flange member, a stop flange member, and a supported cross member adjacent the rear edge of said panel to form a fork end receiving socket.

9. A ribbed drum lifting and handling device of the character described and which is adapted for mounting on the forks of tower type truck-tractors or the like, said device including a rigid panel member, said panel member having means for receiving said forks and stabilizing said panel member thereon, said panel member also having a recessed front portion and a pair of substantially parallel elongated narrow members which project forwardly from the side edges of said recessed portion in the same general direction as said forks, and which members are adapted to receive, extend past the midpoint of. and closely fit the sides of the body of said drum, and

pivoted means carried by each of said elongated narrow members adapted to receive said drum therebetween and when said pivots are at diametrically opposite sides of said drum under a sidewise projecting rib thereof and said drum is lifted, said pivoted members will act to support and stabilize said drum against forward or backward tipping under normal operating conditions, wherein said elongated narrow members each include a reinforcing rib which extends forwardly beyond the main portion of said panel member and also rearwardly to stiffen said panel member to which it is joined, and wherein the means for receiving said forks are on the under side of said panel and for each fork it separately comprises a side flange member, a stop flange member, and a supported cross member adjacent the rear edge of said panel to form a fork end receiving socket.

10. In a device for lifting and handling a drum standing on end and having a substantially cylindrical bodywith circumferential ribs, said device having a pair of substantially parallel members having a substantially flat upper face, said members being spaced apart a distance adapted to closely fit the sides of said cylindrical drum body, a pair of narrow arcuate members, and means for pivotally mounting one of said arcuate members on the upper face of each of said substantially parallel members in position to receive said drum body therebetween and to pivotally move to encompass substantial forwardly and backwardly extending side areas of said drum when said pivots and the drum axis are diametrically aligned, said substantially parallel members and arcuate members mounted thereon being of a horizontal thickness substantially equal to twice the horizontal projection of said drum n'bs, whereby a relatively stable drum rib engagingmeans is provided for the lifting and handling of said drum and said rib engaging means and said substantially parallel members on which they are mounted can be passed between drums stored with ribs in contact with each other for lifting and handling an individual drum without first moving adjacent drums on opposite sides of same.

11. A lifting and handling device for ribbed steel drums, said device being adapted for use on the front end of the substantially parallel forks of tower type trucktraptors or the like, which comprises a relatively wide I'lgld panel member, said panel member having means at each side edge of same for receiving said forks and stabilizing said panel member thereon, said fork receiving means holding said forks with their longitudinal centerlines substantially tangent with the opposite side edges of said drum to be handled, the forward end of said fork receiving means terminating short of the midpoint of the drum to be handled and determining the maximum insertion of said forks into said fork receiving means, when said device is in drum carrying position, said panel also having a centrally recessed front portion to receive the side of the drum to be handled, and a pair of rigid elongated bar-type upstanding members fixedly mounted on the top face of said panel to reinforce same and which members project forwardly alongside said recessed portion 'in the same general direction as said forks, said upstanding members being of a width closely fitting the space between the bodies of said tightly placed drums with their ribs in contact with each other, said upstanding members being d pt dlo-. e iy ,.e q dv is he. mildpifit o f 'bs tihei' s Qfa d um 12 han l 1 I 12. A di urn lifting and'handling device as set fol-thin V claiin; ll} iyherein same ineludes' a yaiiable' length means for release ably engaging said truek -t riac to r indefienden't of its forks andfholding said assembly on said forks. J

13 A drum lifting and handling device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the nieans for receiving said forks is on the under side of said panel and for each fo'rk it separately corrip'rises a side flange nae niber, a fork end stop, flange member, anda supported ei'o's's member adjacentjtlie rear edge of said 'panel to form a fork end reeeivingsocket I 1'4. A drfuin lifting and handling device as set forth in claini I'L'Whr'ein sam'includs' a variable length means for a'sably engaging 'said tfuek-tractor independent of said f o'rks and holding said assembly on forks fand wherein said elongated narrow members each Carry thereon. a pivoted means'for reeeivin'g afid"paitiall'y 'enci'rclings'aid' drum. j n g V v t 15f. adevieeforlif "ng'and handling a druin'standingon'iend and-ii'aving'a substantially cylindrieaI body with Circumferential r'ibs, a pair of rigid substantially parallel niefnber s spae'd apart a distance idapted to closely fit the sides of saideylindrieal dfiini 'biddyand sn'pgort said drum on one of said ribs, saidsubs tantially parallel members being ofa horiioiit'al thiekifesssubmeme stant ially eqlial tq t viri ce the mounting means and means pivotally mounted on thetop of each of said; substantially parallel members said last named rneans 'being of substantially the same horizontal thickness as said substantially parallel members and having a'substantiallyarcuate portion to receive and stabilize said drum'when lifted, whereby said substantially parallel members with the pivotally mounted means thereon can be passed between drums storedwith ribs in contact vwith each otherifor lifting and handling an' individual drum,

while supported'on said pivotally mounted means, With horizontal brojection of said drum ribs agmounting, means for said substanfiallyparallel-menibers, means joining said substantially parallel" member's rigidly in"pennanently fixed position to said 

